Top Mustaches in Cubs History

Presenting the greatest mustaches in Cubs history:



#15 - 1976 Topps Mike Garman
This card is a bonanza. Terribly airbrushed hat and warm-up jacket. Deadly serious steely gaze. Tough as nails mustache.



#14 - 1985 7up Dennis Eckersley
Unfortunately, this Hall of Famer’s short tenure with the Cubs was most memorable for the terrific mustache-mullet combination.



#13 - 1981 Topps Willie Hernandez
This is a magical portrait of a serious fellow that would be unhittable in 1984 with the Tigers.



#12 - 1984 Fleer Jerry Morales
Compare Kosuke Fukudome’s offensive numbers to Jerry Morales’ and tell me who’d you rather have in the outfield. Still on the fence? Consider the mustache.



#11 - 1975 Topps Carmen Fanzone
Besides having a last name perfectly suited for a sports bar, Carmen Fanzone was also a featured trumpet player on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. You can’t tell me that his mustache had nothing to do with that.



#10 - 1981 Topps Dennis Lamp
Ever seen a guy that looks just like this at the flea market? I thought so. Dennis Lamp simply mystified batters with his Fu-Manchu and smoke-tinted specs.



#9 - 1986 Fleer Davey Lopes
I can only assume that Mr. Lopes looks so angry in this photo because he had just been confused for John Oates.

#8 - 1991 Upper Deck Shawon Dunston
The needle on the Shawon-O-Meter is pointing directly at this glorious mustache/soul patch combo.

#7 - 1996 Fleer Ultra Doug Jones
Doug Jones came to the Cubs as a five-time All-Star in 1996.  As luck would have it, however, his 78 mile per hour fastball didn't fool many batters and he was run out of town by the middle of June.  Our best memories of Jones will always be his old timey mustache.

#6 - 1998 Topps Rod Beck
Rod Beck was a beast in 1998, saving 51 games as the Cubs captured a Wild Card playoff berth.  Unfortunately, Beck was afflicted with addictions that claimed his life at just 38 years old.  This is a tribute to the Shooter and his wicked Fu Manchu.  

#5 - 1989 Upper Deck Goose Gossage
Goose Gossage's 1988 season with the Cubs saw the eventual Hall of Famer mired in mediocrity near the end of his career.  His handlebar mustache was far from mediocre, however.



#4 - 1981 Fleer Tim Blackwell
You’ll never convince me that the walrus was Paul. Tim Blackwell’s scrub brush mustache was so intense you’d swear he's hiding tusks.



#3 - 1983 Fleer Bill Buckner
Billy Buck still rocks these prodigious whiskers. Thankfully, he has taken steps to get the neck hair under control.



#2 - 1981 Topps Coca-Cola Dick Tidrow
Dirt’s mustache is so awesome, he can barely stand to look at you.



#1 - 2013 Topps Carlos Villanueva
Wow.  An inspiration to gentlemen everywhere.

Updated List of Confirmed Convention Guests

Major League Players:

Jake Arrieta RHP
Darwin Barney INF
Welington Castillo C
Starlin Castro INF
Kyuji Fujikawa RHP
Justin Grimm RHP
Edwin Jackson RHP
George Kottaras C
Junior Lake OF
Donnie Murphy INF
Blake Parker RHP
Brooks Raley LHP
Anthony Rizzo INF
Hector Rondon RHP
Justin Ruggiano OF
Chris Rusin LHP
James Russell LHP
Jeff Samardzija RHP
Nate Schierholtz OF
Pedro Strop RHP
Ryan Sweeney OF
Luis Valbuena INF
Carlos Villanueva RHP
Jose Veras RHP
Travis Wood LHP
Wesley Wright LHP

Minor League Players:

Arismendy Alcantara INF
Albert Almora, OF
Javier Baez INF
Kris Bryant INF
C.J. Edwards RHP
Kyle Hendricks RHP
Pierce Johnson RHP
Eric Jokisch LHP
Mike Olt INF
Neil Ramirez RHP
Armando Rivero RHP
Rubi Silva OF
Jorge Soler OF
Christian Villanueva INF
Arodys Vizcaino RHP

Former Players:

Ernie Banks INF
Glenn Beckert INF
Jim Bullinger P
Bobby Dernier OF
Scott Eyre P
Randy Hundley C
Fergie Jenkins P
Jay Johnstone OF
Les Lancaster P
Derrek Lee 1B
Ted Lilly P
Bill Madlock INF
Gary Matthews OF
Dave Otto P, Broadcaster
Milt Pappas P
Mark Prior P
Mike Remlinger P
Scott Sanderson P
Dwight Smith OF
Lee Smith P
Tim Stoddard P
Rick Sutcliffe P
Steve Trout P
Billy Williams OF
Kerry Wood P

Coaching Staff:

Rick Renteria, Manager
Mike Borzello, Catching Coach
Chris Bosio, Pitching Coach
Mike Brumley, Assistant Hitting Coach
Jose Castro, Quality Assurance Coach
Eric Hinske, First Base Coach
Brandon Hyde, Bench Coach
Gary Jones, Third Base Coach
Bill Mueller, Hitting Coach
Lester Strode, Bench Coach

Team Executives/Broadcasters:

Tom Ricketts, Chairman
Laura Ricketts, Board Member
Pete Ricketts, Board Member
Todd Ricketts, Board Member
Theo Epstein, President, Baseball Operations
Crane Kenney, President, Business Operations
Jed Hoyer, EVP/GM
Jason McLeod, SVP, Scouting & Player Development
Randy Bush, Assistant GM
Shiraz Rehman, Assistant to the GM
Pat Hughes, Radio Broadcaster
Ron Coomer, Radio Broadcaster
Len Kasper, TV Broadcaster
Jim Deshaies, TV Broadcaster


Additionally, the Cubs have announced that they will have meet and greet opportunities with Cubs celebrities in exchange for donations to the Cubs Care charity on a limited basis at $125 for current players and $150 for former players. The cost includes an official ball and an opportunity for photos and chit chat with the player..

Also, at registration everyone will get a pull-tab card for a chance to get a guaranteed autograph opportunity.

Finally, the Cubs will let you park at Wrigley Field for the weekend for just $25, the catch being that you will have to provide your own transportation to the hotel from there.  This is probably a $20 cab ride each way.  Public transportation via the CTA red line is just ½ a block east of Wrigley Field at Addison.  The closest stop to the Sheraton is Grand and this puts you about .7 miles from the hotel.

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The 12 Weirdest Cards in Cubs History

Every year, baseball card manufacturers have to make choices when selecting the photographs for their respective sets.  Typically, one would expect that the people in charge of photo selection will have several shots to choose from, including posed shots, candids and action shots.  Sometimes, however, the choices are rather curious.  Accordingly, here are the 12 weirdest cards in Cubs history:

#12
1986 Fleer Reggie Patterson (Card No. 376)

Reggie Patterson's claim to fame is probably being the Cubs pitcher who gave up Pete Rose's 4191st hit on September 8, 1985, tying him with Ty Cobb for the all-time hits record.  Although Patterson won the last three games he started for the Cubs in 1985, he never pitched again in the major leagues.  This photo shows a grumpy Patterson hanging out with the tarp and some bags.  It's beautiful.

#11
1996 Topps Stadium Club Todd Zeile (Card No. 420)

Todd Zeile came over in a trade with the Cardinals on June 16, 1995 for Mike Morgan and some minor leaguers.  In this technology time capsule, Zeile is clearly on the phone with Jerry Maguire seeking a deal to get him out of Chicago.

#10
1993 O-Pee-Chee Premier Candy Maldonado (Card No. 83)

"Ya girl, tell me more about your cats, they sound so interesting." This card creeps me out.

#9
1998 Topps Scott Servais (Card No. 92)

Scott Servais was a steady catcher as a Cub but Topps chose a picture that makes him look like a clown walking a tightrope.  Plus the ball is behind him.

#8
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Glenallen Hill (Card No. 137)

Glenallen Hill will forever be known for the monster home run he hit onto the rooftop across from Wrigley Field and having violent spider nightmares.  On this occasion, however, he apparently just had some loaded brownies and wanted to be close to the towels.

#7
1993 Upper Deck Andre Dawson (Card No. 308)

Well, certainly not as direct as the Hawk getting beaned in the face but Upper Deck did a great job here simulating Andre Dawson running his face into the brick wall after making this spectacular catch.  Ouch.

#6
1976 Topps Rick Reuschel (Card No. 359)

Hey Rick, do you mind grabbing a helmet to pose for a quick picture?  Thanks for being so accommodating, how about a big smile and an awkward lean-in, too?

#5
1981 Fleer Lynn McGlothlen (Card No. 302)

Okay, apart from crappy photo quality the big question remains, why is there a sack of potatoes on the field?

#4
1993 Fleer Greg Hibbard (Card No. 379)

I can't think of another card in which a Cubs player is depicted on his card in a White Sox uniform but even better is the transaction triangle stating that Hibbard came to the Cubs from the Marlins.  This card sets the record for most teams listed on the front of a card.

#3
1984 Fleer Jay Johnstone (Card No. 495)

This one is great not only for jokester Johnstone's Budweiser umbrella hat but also for the look on his face.  It's as if he just found out someone ate the last loaded brownie.

#2
1978 Topps Dave Kingman (Card No. 570)

In 1977, Dave Kingman played for the Mets, Padres, Angels and Yankees, setting a record as the only player ever to have hit a home run for a team in each of the four divisions (at that time) in the same season. For his 1978 card, the folks at Topps turned to their talented airbrush artists and gave them one simple instruction, "Get rid of everything but his face, even if you have to chop off his right ear!"

#1
1994 Topps Stadium Club Dan Plesac (Card No. 256)

This one tops the list only because of all of the levels of drugs it passed through on the way to be approved for manufacture.  Plesac was on acid.  The photographer was on acid.  The person who selected the photo was on acid.  The person who centered the photo was on acid.  Even Plesac's ghost was on acid.  This is the epitome of weird.

Anyway, here's what Mark Grace thinks of these cards:

Greg Maddux Elected to Hall of Fame with 97.2% of Vote

Although Greg Maddux will undoubtedly be enshrined as an Atlanta Brave, many of us will always think of him as a Cub for the years he dominated the mound at Wrigley Field.

Highlights from Maddux's career include a World Championship in 1995 with the Braves, four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992 (with the Cubs) through 1995.  He was a 20 game winner with the Cubs in 1992 and again with the Braves in 1993.

Amazingly, he also has two of the three best single-season ERAs since 1968, 1.56 in 1994 and 1.63 in 1995.  (Only Dwight Gooden's 1.53 in 1985 was better.)  And his control was so good, Maddux walked only 14 batters (unintentionally) in 1997 in 33 starts and over 232 innings.

He is 8th on the all-time wins list with 355 and 10th on the career strikeout list with 3371.  He has the sixth best single-season WHIP ever recorded with .811 in 1995.  Maddux won the Gold Glove Award every year from 1990 through 2008, except one.  (Mike Hampton was awarded the National League Gold Glove in 2003.)

Maddux also paced the National league with WARs of 9.2 in 1992, 8.5 in 1994 and 9.7 in 1995.  His lifetime WAR total of 104.6 is 6th all-time.

Plus he rocked the sweet mustache pictured above.  Congratulations to the newest Chicago Cub to gain entry into baseball's Hall of Fame!

Former Cub Tony LaRussa Inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame

Most people know Tony LaRussa as a Major League manager.  It is also widely known that he got his law degree, anticipating that his life in baseball was to be short-lived.

What is not as well-known is Tony LaRussa as a Chicago Cub.  LaRussa made his major league debut as an 18 year old in 1963 with the then Kansas City Athletics.  He played second base and hit .250 in 53 plate appearances.  He showed a keen eye and posted an on base percentage nearly one hundred points higher at .346.  It took LaRussa another four seasons, however, to work his way back to the major league club, appearing in 13 games for the Oakland Athletics from 1968-1969. 

In 1970, Tony LaRussa was able to crack the lineup more regularly, appearing in 52 games and hitting .198 in 123 plate appearances.  He again showed a good eye, posting an on base percentage over one hundred points higher at .301.  After going hitless in 8 at bats for the 1971 A’s, LaRussa’s contract was purchased by Atlanta, where he hit a robust .286 and had a sparkling .375 on base average in all of 8 plate appearances with the Braves.  

LaRussa played in the Braves’ system in 1972 but did not make an appearance with the big club in Atlanta that season.  On October 20, 1972 the Braves traded him to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tom Phoebus, who had gone 3-3 with 6 saves and a 3.78 ERA in 37 appearances with the Cubs.

In 1973, LaRussa made the team out of spring training and was on the bench for the April 6th contest as the Expos faced the Cubs in front of 40,273 at Wrigley Field.  The Expos struck first, scoring 2 runs off of Fergie Jenkins in the top of the 1st inning.  The Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the 1st off of Mike Torrez and the score remained 2-1 as the Cubs came to bat in the bottom of the 9th. 

Cubs first baseman Joe Pepitone led off the 9th inning with a single to centerfield, despite a five-man infield, and Cleo James was called to run for him.  Ron Santo then reached on an error on a ball hit to Expos second baseman Ron Hunt.  Cubs manager Whitey Lockman turned to LaRussa and pointed a finger in his direction.  “Run for Santo” was all he said.  Tony LaRussa grabbed his helmet and trotted out to first base to spell Santo.

Glenn Beckert drew a base on balls and the Cubs were in business with the bases loaded and nobody out.  Randy Hundley walked and Jones scored to tie the game at 2-2.  But Don Kessinger promptly fouled out and Jim Hickman followed with a strikeout. 

The Cubs were down to their final out as Rick Monday came to the plate, hoping to break the tie and avoid extra innings.  Tony LaRussa danced off of third.  Monday worked the count against fireballer Mike Marshall and eventually coaxed a walk.  LaRussa jogged home and triumphantly stomped on home plate, having scored the winning run in his Cubs debut!

And there you have the entirety of Tony LaRussa’s career with the Cubs.  He never appeared in another major league game for the Cubs after he scored the winning run on Opening Day, 1973.  LaRussa was sent down to the Cubs’ AA affiliate in Wichita and put together a nice season, hitting .314/.403./.393 with 5 home runs and 75 RBIs in 106 games for the Aeros.

After another four seasons in the minors, LaRussa retired as a player at the end of the 1977 season, never having reached the major leagues again.  The very next year, he was hired to manage the White Sox AA team in Knoxville.  By August, 1979 he was called upon to manage the Chicago White Sox when his 1973 Cubs teammate Don Kessinger resigned from the post. 

LaRussa managed consecutively in the major leagues through his retirement in 2011.  He is just one of four men listed on the Cubs all-time roster as a pinch runner and only one of two, the other being Mel Kerr, to have scored a run in his only pinch running appearance.

He finished his managerial career third on the all-time list with 2851 wins and led the 1989 A’s and 2006 and 2011 Cardinals to World Series titles.  He is now a Hall of Famer, inducted with fellow managers Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. 

Convention Passes have Shipped

2014 Cubs Convention Pass

Celebrating 100 years of futility at the best place on earth to watch baseball.  

I love you Wrigley Field but I don't have much hope that the 2014 Cubs are going to terribly competitive.  

See you at the Convention!

Ultimate Chicago Cubs Name Scramble Fun

The list below is of Cubs old and new, Hall of Famers, MVPs, Cy Young Award Winners, Rookie of the Year recipients, managers, fan favorites and a few obscure.

How many can you get?

1. Tire Ink Racer (MGR)
2. I Wily Slim Ball (OF)
3. Beginner Threw For (P)
4. Knees Brain (INF)
5. Angry Benders (INF)
6. Robbery in Bed (OF)
7. Ya Moms Ass (OF)
8. Hates Gym Wart (OF)
9. Lent Berg Neck (INF)
10. Frankly He Trows (P)
11. Can Start Rolls (INF)
12. Zany Thin Orzo (INF)
13. Max Drugged (P)
14. So Abnormal Czar (P)
15. Rubble Clink (INF)
16. Broil My Handler (C)
17. Gave Mankind (OF)
18. True Rest Cub (P)
19. Yak And Fop (OF)
20. A Demon Hurl (INF)
21. Issue A Loom (OF)
22. One Cry (INF)
23. Rubbery Comb (OF)
24. Truest Vote (P)
25. Crueler Hicks (P)
26. Keg Car Ram (INF)
27. Onward Sedan (OF)
28. Radar Smoke (INF/OF)
29. Refine Kens Jig (P)
30. Bad Turkeys (MGR)
31. Barnyard Wine (INF)
32. I Luff Crickets (P)
33. Elm Heist (P)
34. Not Sonar (INF)
35. Bedrock (P)
36. A Sick Error (INF)
37. Husk Arena (OF)
38. Blur Cook (OF)
39. Amazed Jiff Jars (P)
40. Onto Voyages (C)
41. Roof Onion Salsa (OF)
42. Yo Red Work (P)
43. A Trendy Sperm (P)
44. Reek Elder (INF)
45. La Lineup Oil (MGR)
46. Marina Oar Crap Rag (INF)
47. Arwy Labor (INF)
48. Real Women Jot (OF)
49. Splat A Pimp (P)
50. No Hast Sundown (INF)
51. Attorney Corpse (OF)
52. Let Idyll (P)
53. Lawn Cave (INF)
54. Damn All Rosin (OF)
55. Drench Hair (P)
56. Ragtag Yeti (INF)
57. Endorses King (INF)
58. Many Taco Nap (OF)
59. Scanners To Dots (P)
60. Bear For Toy (C)

Click Here for Answers

Derrek Lee confirmed for 2014 Cubs Convention

The Cubs have announced that the former Gold Glove first baseman and 2005 batting champion will make his first Cubs Convention appearance since 2010.

Details Regarding the 100th Anniversary of Wrigley Field to be Revealed at the Cubs Convention

As you may know, Wrigley Field was originally named Weeghman Park.  It was built by Charles Weeghman in 1914 to house the upstart Federal League's Chicago ball club.  The project was started in February, 1914 and was completed in time for the Chi-Feds home opener at a cost of $250,000 (approximately $5.8 million today.)

Following litigation that resulted in a settlement by the National and American Leagues to the Federal League in exchange for the Federal League’ disbandment, Weeghman bought the Chicago Cubs and merged the team with his former Chicago Whales ball club by buying the contracts of several former Whales players, including: Mordecai Brown, Claude Hendrix, Joe Tinker and Dutch Zwilling. 

He thereafter moved the newly formulated Cubs to Weeghman Park from the West Side Grounds; therefore, the first year that the Cubs actually played at the ballpark we now know as Wrigley Field was in 1916.  Regardless, the Cubs have announced a year-long celebration of Wrigley Field’s 100^th anniversary that will kickoff at the 2014 Cubs Convention.

According to the Cubs, they will have themed games with throwback uniforms, bobblehead giveaways and even food choices from the given decade.  Hopefully the 1970s game will feature a Buckner bobblehead and and the return of Oscar Mayer Smokie Links!

Additionally, the Cubs will unveil at the Convention the decade specific children’s toys that will be given away throughout the season at Sunday afternoon games.

Share Your Thoughts at the Cubs Convention Forum

The Cubs Convention Forum is the place to share your thoughts, ask questions and discuss both the Cubs Convention and the Cubs in general.

To register for the forum click here.  It will only take you a couple of seconds.